Summary

　　Job Description

　　LOCATION: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute

　　HOURS: Full Time (40 hours per week). Monday through Friday, day shift hours. Some flexibility required for community outreach initiatives outside of regular business hours.

　　POSITION SUMMARY:

　　There have been substantial advances in translating research findings into community health practices over the past decades. Yet, such advances are not always realized by all members of society according to age, race, language, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. One potential solution that improves access to clinical trials, outcomes and patient satisfaction is patient navigation. Patient navigation is a model of health care coordination that focuses on reducing various barriers to achieving a particular health outcome.

　　At the core patient navigation is coordination of care achieved through individual support and assistance in navigating required systems, such as financial, health and social. Key components include promoting one on one contacts to aid patients, families and caregivers to get through multifaceted health networks by creating linkages, educating on strategies, troubleshooting logistics and offering empowering psychosocial support. Key goals are: increasing communication and trust; increasing participation in Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute led education, screening and prevention programs; increasing utilization of Ann. B Barshinger Cancert Institute cancer services; and increasing participation in cancer treatment trials.

　　The Research Lay Navigator will be a key embedded Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute Clinical Research Unit (CRU) team member who will serve as a community ambassador and educator increasing access and accrual to cancer treatment trials across the Lancaster region.

　　ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:

　　Understand and educate lay individuals on the importance of clinical trials, how to access clinical trials and how to participate in clinical trials.

　　Create and maintain deep, sincere and committed community relationships.

　　Serve as an integral role member of the high functioning CRU research team in roles assigned.

　　Develop a network of community resources providing individualized assistance to patients, families, and caregivers to overcome barriers within the healthcare system and facilitate access to resources available to patients.

　　Serve as a link between patients and research team to facilitate clinical and supportive care services.

　　Serve as a point of contact among referring providers, patients, and other clinical caregivers for the purpose of empowering patients in accessing clinical trials.

　　Facilitate patient appointments for diagnostic procedures in the laboratory, imaging, and other specialty areas.

　　Work collaboratively with a clinical point of reference as defined by the lay navigator’s scope of practice

　　SECONDARY FUNCTIONS: The following duties are considered secondary to the primary duties listed above:

　　Assists patients to make informed decisions regarding participation in clinical trials.

　　Collaborates with members of the healthcare team to design, coordinate andf facilitate an evidence-based plan of care involving clinical trials.

　　Conducts initial and ongoing comprehensive needs assessments of patients and families as related to clinical trial participation.

　　Documents in the electronic health record, as indicated, all interventions and clinical changes using established guidelines.

　　Encourages patients and families to participate in the clinical trials care plan.

　　Evaluates results of ability to access the care plan and readjusts priorities as patient status changes.

　　Facilitates scheduling of appointments for trial related activities and support services

　　Follows clinical trials screening, enrollment and treatment plan from the time of patient referral, coordinates care among team members, reviews patients’ disposition for care, provides patient information and education, and evaluates care and changing priorities.

　　Follows patient need throughout the clinical trial continuum, including inpatient admissions, and collaborates with inpatient care management resources.

　　Identifies new and established clinical trial candidates with a cancer diagnosis who require navigator services.

　　Matches unmet clinical trials needs needs with referrals to a social worker, dietitian, genetic counselor, nurse practitioner, and community or outreach coordinator.

　　Participates in patient education by assisting patients in understanding their responsibilities in adhering to clinical trial protocol and linking to available resources as needed

　　Provides emotional and educational support for patients and families.

　　Serves as a patient advocate on the research team.

　　Transitions patients on and off trials.

　　Uses a case management system.

　　Adheres to established productivity benchmarks and submits data for the CRU dashboard.

　　Articulates service and customer relations improvements to ensure patient retention.

　　Coordinates health related social needs information for multidisciplinary treatment-planning conferences.

　　Develops patient education programs and written communication materials.

　　Participates in collecting data for the clinical trials unit dashboard to monitor quality metrics, including access and barriers, as well as service and satisfaction outcomes.

　　Participates in CRU performance improvement activities.

　　Maintains responsibility for outreach efforts to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key customers (e.g., community leaders, providers, office staff, diagnostic laboratory staff, nurses, radiology staff, social services staff, medical staff).

　　Other duties as assigned.

　　MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

　　High School Diploma or GED

　　Two (2) years minimum working experience

　　Ability to form strong alliances with referral and resource agencies in the community

　　Active listening skills

　　Ability to anticipate change and react accordingly

　　Clear and persuasive communication skills among all levels and audiences

　　Experience in conflict resolution

　　Sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity

　　Demonstrated leadership style that builds and maintains a climate of trust and inspires collaboration with medical staff and departments

　　Able to work efficiently and effectively both independently and as a member of a team

　　Sound decision-making and critical-thinking skills

　　Detail-oriented

　　PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

　　Associate Degree

　　OPN-CG (Oncology Patient Navigator-Certified Generalist) preferred or obtained within 12 months of hire

　　Prior clinical or non-clinical healthcare related experience

　　Experience with providing holistic care for patients through education and information about their illness

　　Prior knowledge of medical, surgical, and radiation oncology

　　Disclaimer: This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be a reflection of those principal job elements essential for recruitment and selection, for making fair job evaluations, and for establishing performance standards. The percentages of time spent performing job duties are estimates, and should not be considered absolute. The incumbent shall perform all other functions and/or be cross-trained as shall be determined at the sole discretion of management, who has the right to amend, modify, or terminate this job in part or in whole. Incumbent must be able to perform all job functions safely. #LI-LJ1

　　Benefits At A Glance:

　　PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH offers the following benefits to employees:

　　100% Tuition Assistance at The Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

　　Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays

　　Shift, Weekend and On-Call Differentials

　　Health, Dental and Vision Coverage

　　Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

　　Retirement Savings Account with Company Matching

　　Child Care Subsidies

　　Onsite Gym and Fitness Classes

　　Disclaimer

　　PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

　　Search Firm Representatives please read carefully: PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH via-email, the Internet or directly to hiring managers at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH as a result of the referral or through other means.

　　PENN MEDICINE LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH, a member of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine), is a not-for-profit health system with a comprehensive network of care encompassing Lancaster General Hospital (LGH), Women & Babies Hospital and the Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital (a partnership with Kindred Healthcare). We are an Accredited Trauma Center-Level I through the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation with 805 Licensed beds. Our membership in Penn Medicine brings together the strengths of a world-renowned, not-for-profit academic medical center and a nationally recognized, not-for-profit community healthcare system.

　　Outpatient services are provided at the Downtown Outpatient and Suburban Outpatient Pavilions, along with additional outpatient centers and Express and Urgent Care locations throughout the region. Lancaster General Health Physicians is a network of more than 300 primary-care and specialty physicians, at more than 40 offices throughout the region.